Kenya ups game over threat of bioterrorism

Last year, researchers from a US university were surprised after tasking non-scientist students to test whether chatbots could help a layperson cause a pandemic.

Within one hour, the chatbots suggested four potential pandemic pathogens and supplied names of companies that could assist with DNA synthesis and how to trick them to provide the services.

The experts said advances in technology have made it horrifyingly easier to construct a biological weapon.

While some claim that such a risk is exaggerated, countries are already building defences to prevent it from happening.

This was one of the discussions by experts in Nairobi at the media launch of the East Africa Region Global Health Security Summit 2025.

Dr James Lawler, an expert from the University of Nebraska Medical Centre (UNMC), which is sponsoring the upcoming summit, said Covid-19 highlighted the health security vulnerability of the East Africa region.

Dr Lawler is the director of international programmes and innovation at the Global Center for Health Security at UNMC.

“Future threats such as emerging diseases, synthetic biology and artificial intelligence present daunting challenges,” he said.

Synthetic biology collectively refers to the modification or creation of biological organisms.

Although it holds promise in fighting diseases and improving agricultural productivity, it can potentially be used maliciously to threaten life.

Dr Lawler asked East Africa to future-proof health systems to make sure they can handle different kinds of pandemics.

“The post-Covid period constitutes a unique opportunity for all of us to advance health equity and get the health-related Sustainable Development Goals back on track, while ‘future-proofing’ health systems,” he said.

Dr Lawler is highly regarded for having correctly predicted the toll Covid-19 would have on the US early in the pandemic in 2020.

The East Africa region global health security summit will take place in January 2025 in Kilifi.

It is organised by the Global Center for Health Security at UNMC in conjunction with the Kenya Vision 2030 Delivery Board, and Jumuiya Economic Development Secretariat.

The three-day event, taking place January 28-30, 2025, is supported by Kenya’s Ministry of Health.

More experts at the media launch emphasised the need for pandemic preparedness.

Emmanuel Nzai, chairperson of the Vision 2030 Delivery Board, said a high pandemic toll, such as that of Covid-19, should never happen again.

“Never again will we be caught unprepared,” he said.

Nzai said the success of the summit hinges on embracing a “business unusual” approach, alongside transformative leadership and strong private-public partnerships to build resilient systems for addressing health security risks.

Dr Judith Kose, the regional programme lead for the Eastern Africa Regional Coordinating Center for the Africa CDC, called for action in the wake of the Mpox outbreak.

“The ongoing partnerships among Eastern African countries are crucial to enhancing health security and preparedness for future threats,” she said.

Dr Kose called on a common approach in East Africa, saying diseases know no borders.

“This means not only regional cooperation but also the strengthening of global partnerships spanning countries, the public sector, private sector and civil society,” Dr Kose said.

Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro, represented by gender executive Dama Masha, said the summit’s timing is perfect and expressed confidence in the county’s readiness to host it.

“As a county, we are ready to host the conference,” she said.

Health PS Mary Muthoni, represented by director of the National Public Health Institute Dr Kamene Kimenye, said Kenya is committed to enhancing its pandemic preparedness and health security.

“Our current efforts include; strengthening surveillance and early detection, enhancing health infrastructure, promoting research and innovation, engaging communities, strengthening partnerships and comprehensive emergency preparedness plans,” she said.

Muthoni said the themes of the upcoming Summit 2025 are important for Kenya.

“The themes pandemic preparedness and response, bioterrorism and biosecurity, health system strengthening and global health equity are key components in our health agenda as a country,” she said.

The 14 East African CDC member countries—Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan and Tanzania.